In a devastating series of airstrikes, Israeli forces have killed 22 people and injured 117 in central Beirut, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The strikes occurred Thursday evening and marked another escalation of violence in the region.
Reporters from the BBC reported hearing loud explosions emanating from the Bachoura neighborhood, where the attacks took place. Rescuers were seen combing through the rubble, and ambulances were dispatched to transport the injured to local hospitals.
The apparent target of the airstrikes was Wafiq Safa, the brother-in-law of the assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, as well as other militant figures. Hezbollah’s media office has yet to make an official statement regarding the incident. The airstrikes hit residential buildings in the densely populated areas of Nweiri and Basta.
This new wave of violence follows two relatively calm days in Beirut, which was a stark contrast to the heightened activity seen in previous weeks. Eyewitness accounts indicate that there was no prior warning before the strikes commenced.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have not provided specific comments regarding the airstrikes. This incident marks the third time Israel has launched attacks on Beirut outside the southern suburb of Dahieh, where previous operations targeted Hezbollah operatives and weapons caches.
Witnesses described seeing widespread destruction. One woman reported being nearby during the strikes, highlighting the civilian impact of such military operations. Concerns about civilian safety have been amplified as reports of casualties continue to mount.
This attack occurred mere hours after two Indonesian peacekeepers were injured in southern Lebanon, when an Israeli tank struck a UN observation tower, according to a statement from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The UN reported that the peacekeepers escaped serious injury but emphasized that deliberate attacks on their personnel constitute a grave violation of international law.
In addition, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for firing rockets at Israeli troops and using guided missiles to destroy an approaching tank, leading to casualties among the soldiers.
As domestic unrest escalates, the IDF reported that nearly 190 rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel on Thursday. Earlier in the day, an Israeli airstrike on the village of Karak in eastern Lebanon resulted in the deaths of four individuals and left 17 others injured.
Lebanon’s government has stated that approximately 1.2 million people have been displaced from their homes over the past year due to the ongoing violence. Since Hezbollah launched attacks into northern Israel on October 8, following a deadly assault by Hamas, tensions in the region have risen sharply.
As the situation develops, the humanitarian crisis in both Lebanon and Gaza continues to worsen, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting nearly 42,000 fatalities during Israel’s offensive in Gaza since October 7.
Credit: BBC News
